Get started identifying the wild and naturalised snowdrops you’re most likely to spot in a brand-new crib sheet suitable for beginners.
Thank you all so much for continuing to read and download recent entries in this series of beginner’s plant cribs. It means a lot.
With a few more abundant groups out of the way, now seemed like a good time to move away from familiar urban plants and tackle something a little more challenging: Snowdrops.
Now, I know what you might be thinking – snowdrops all look the same. Small, white, and blooming usually (but not always) in late winter, I tend to agree. Or did, that is. Since I started looking at my local snowdrops here in Newcastle, it has become quite clear that they are far more diverse than meets the eye. Inspired by a few local finds, I wanted to explore the species you’re most likely to see wild, naturalised, and yes, planted, here in the North East. True to form, I have included some other species and varieties too but only because they’re bound to turn up eventually.
Identifying Snowdrops
Well-naturalised in woodlands, hedgerows, large gardens, and other shady areas, snowdrops bring joy to many in late winter. Looking past the obvious similarities, they can be an interesting bunch to explore, and even with a tentative glance, it is possible to find several species with relative ease. Especially if humans have been involved in spreading them. In this crib, we’ll look at:
Get started identifying small-flowered fleabanes a brand-new crib sheet suitable for beginners.
So far, this fledgling series of botanical cribs has focused on plants commonly encountered in urban areas. In Dead-nettles and Ragworts, we have some of our most conspicuous native plants, but what about some of our lesser-known species? Having discovered several species of fleabane close to home in Newcastle this year, I thought it was high time they enjoyed a moment in the sun.
Now, when you think of fleabanes, you might picture the lovely round blooms of Common Fleabane or the daisy-like flowers of Mexican Fleabane. You’d be right to, of course, but what many may not know is that there is a whole other contingent of these plants out there to be discovered. I am of course talking about the small-flowered fleabanes – a group of largely non-naive species which readily adapt to urban habitats.
Identifying Fleabanes
With their diminutive flowers and a tendency to grow in a whole host of grotty places, small-flowered fleabanes are not the most glamourous bunch. That said, they are interesting. Largely because several of them are currently in the process of spreading like wildfire in the UK. In this crib, we’ll look at:
Get started identifying dead-nettles with a brand-new crib suitable for beginner botanists.
Well, our first beginner’s crib to urban ragworts seemed to go down well. Thank you for the kind comments all! Spurred on by your feedback, this week I’ve created another looking a second accessible plant family, and one just as common in our towns and cities.
I have also almost finished a festive entry on Snowdrops and hope to have a crib to small-flowered fleabanes ready soon too. Until then, let’s get started…
Identifying dead-nettles
Colourful and conspicuous, dead-nettles are some of our most familiar wildflowers. Well, at least the 1-2 species commonly spotted in flowerbeds and overgrown gardens, that is. Some dead-nettles, particularly the small red ones, can look surprisingly alike and I wanted our next crib to take a closer look at these lovely little weeds.
Please note, as ever, this focuses on the species likely to be encountered in North East England, as opposed to rarer ones. It includes:
Get started identifying ragworts and groundsels with a brand-new crib sheet suitable for beginners.
Find keys boring? You’re not alone. While those of us who spend our days obsessively searching for plants quite like them, for most people, they don’t cut the mustard. Indeed, they can be particularly offputting to beginners.
It is for this reason that I wanted to start a new series on this blog – Common’s Cribs, a full series of which will eventually appear here. Hopefully colourful and straightforward, these simple guides include only the species people are likely to encounter during their daily lives, hopefully making the process of identifying a plant easier.
Identifying Ragworts
Yellow, conspicuous, and with an unnecessarily negative reputation, ragworts (and their cousins, the groundsels) are an obvious bunch in our towns and cities. Growing in pavement cracks, as well as weedy areas, they can all look fairly yellow and similar at first but look closer and the differences become clearer.
This weekend provided a nice opportunity for our new local botany group to visit Walker Riverside. Here’s what we encountered.
Botany (and wildlife recording in general) can often be a solitary affair. For many of us, I suspect, myself included, that suits us just fine. At least most of the time. Sometimes, however, it is nice to do things as a group. Not least only for the company but also for the support and increased brainpower that comes with combining noggins!
It is for the reasons listed above that a few friends and I wanted to get the ball rolling on a new informal group for botanists North of the Tyne. Both to make things a little more social and support one another and to ensure that we’re working with local experts to capture important plant records. I am pleased to say that this weekend, this came to fruition with our merry band meeting for the first time at Walker Riverside in Newcastle.
As you’ll see from the photos below, we had a jolly good day and learned a lot. A big thank you to those who came along! Now, what about the plants?
A lesson in Speedwell IDScrutinising some Black SpleenwortOh no, a St. John’s WortObligatory group shotSt. Peter’s MarinaPhotographing Clustered Bellflower
Walker is a very diverse site I have written about several times. What never fails to surprise here is the tendency for it to throw up new and unusual discoveries, several of which were made during our visit. Atlantic Ivy (Hedera hibernica) was a particularly interesting one and nice to compare with some nearby Common Ivy (Hedera helix) and Persian Ivy (Hedera colchica). Megs Rogers, VCR for South Northumberland, also came up trumps with a candidate for Small Gorse (Ulex minor) and last month’s county first Balkan Spurge (Euphorbia oblongata) was also admired. The latter ID may well change now someone more knowledgeable than I has taken a look…
As a group, we also noted several other interesting plants between St. Peter’s Basin and Walker Riverside Park. Clustered Bellflower (Campanula glomerata) was still in bloom, as was Cut-leaved Dead-nettle (Lamium hybridum) and Green Field-speedwell (Veronica agrestis). Alexanders (Smyrnium olusatrum) was a nice find on the cycleway, and rare locally, and it was nice to note Blue Fleabane (Erigeron acer) still clinging on. A few other finds are mentioned alongside some excellent photography in Ho-Yin Wong’s tweet below.
Revisited Walker today with the new botany recording group led by @CommonByNature
Some finds include: Rubus tricolor/Chinese Bramble; Catoneaster salicifolius/Willow-leaved Cotoneaster; Erigeron sumatrensis/Gurnsey Fleabane; and some E. acer/Blue Fleabane still flowering. pic.twitter.com/t1XCNMpWWd
A quick round up of this week’s outings in Newcastle with visits to multiple urban sites across the city.
City Centre
A trip into the very heart of Newcastle last weekend proved far more exciting than anticipated with over 140 species recorded. Starting out at St. Andrew’s Church and a highlight here was Wood Sedge (Carex sylvatica) – not a species commonly encountered in the city – while Guernsey Fleabane (Erigeron sumatrensis) was a good local record. The nearby historic city walls held Black Horehound (Ballota nigra) and a potter along the roadsides fringing Westgate Road an interesting mix of Hemp-agrimony (Eupatorium cannabinum), Hedge Bedstraw (Galium mollugo) and Weld (Reseda luteola).
Stopping at a very active development site close to St. James’ Park, I was delighted to stumble across a thriving brownfield mix of Ribbed (Melilotus officinalis) and White Melilot (Melilotus albus), Viper’s-bugloss (Echium vulgare) and Canadian Fleabane (Erigeron canadensis) typical of disturbed ground.
A quick poke about the pond margins at Leazes Park proved interesting with a new plant for me in Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia), an introduction from North America, plenty of Gypsywort (Lycopus europaeus) and what is likely Fool’s-watercress (Helosciadium nodiflorum). Nearby on Claremont Road, some recent disturbance had allowed Hoary Mustard (Hirschfeldia incana) and Red Goosefoot (Oxybasis rubra) to flourish.
A late afternoon wander up the road from home on Friday revealed not one but two new locations for Water Bent (Polypogon viridis), a new arrival here and a ‘Heaton tick’ in Guernsey Fleabane.
At Henderson Hall, it was nice to stumble across a mature Hop (Humulus lupulus) clambering through the path side shrubs – a nice addition to the ongoing urban flora. Here too, Black Horehound was numerous and interesting escapes were noted in Silver Ragwort (Jacobaea maritima), Pirri-Pirri-Bur (Acaena novae-zelandiae) and Italian Toadflax (Cymbalaria pallida).
Walking home via Coach Lane, a quick gander at what remains of the roadside pond here produced Water-plantain (Alisma plantago-aquatica) and the nearby grassland held plenty of Hoary Ragwort (Jacobaea erucifolia). By the roadside, some detective work suggested that a strange Mallow self-seeding in places could be the ornamental hybrid, Malva x clementii.
An unidentified Stonecrop in Heaton cemeterySilver Ragwort (Jacobaea maritima)Water Bent (Polypogon viridis)Tentative Malva x clementiiCanadian Fleabane (Erigeron canadensis)
Newburn Industrial Estate
A rare trip out with company this weekend as Saturday saw a slightly damp trip to Newburn alongside keen local botanist, Ho-Yin Wong. Exploring the vast expanse of brownfield here, it was difficult not to feel somewhat glum knowing it is due to be built on in the near future but nevertheless, much remained to be seen. Starting out in the industrial estate, not one but two patches of Blue Fleabane (Erigeron acris) were noted alongside Broad-leaved Helleborine (Epipactis helleborine) and Hop. The latter is usually a hard species to come by in Newcastle!
Opting first to explore the enormous area of damp grassland here, interesting sightings included Hoary Ragwort, False Fox-sedge (Carex otrubae) and Glaucous Sedge (Carex flacca). Italian Rye-grass (Lolium multiflorum) was a new species for the Urban Flora and it was nice to note Large Bitter-cress (Cardamine amara) by one of the pools. Nearby, the shelterbelt surprised us with planted Juniper (Juniperus communis) and some more natural False-brome (Brachypodium sylvaticum).
Pottering back along the riverside, it came as a surprise to spot not one but two species of naturalised bellflower: Nettle-leaved (Campanula trachelium) and Peach-leaved (Campanula persicifolia). The Dune Helleborines (Epipactis dunensis) were still visible here too while further up, a poke about the industrial estate ponds yielded Lesser Bulrush (Typha angustifolia).
Entry number #5 in our Plant of the Week series follows the discovery of a local rarity, Blue Fleabane, at three sites in Newcastle this week.
Blue Fleabane, Erigeron acris
Blue Fleabane (Erigeron acris) is a small but beautiful member of the Daisy family, Asteraceae. An annual or biennial species, it flowers from July until September and is widely associated with coastal habitats where it favours well-drained dune habitats. A lover of calcareous conditions, it can also be encountered in dry grassland, on verges and occasionally, as an urban weed.
Blue Fleabane (Erigeron acris) growing in a disused planter in Heaton, Newcastle
Befitting a love of well-draining, often quite desolate conditions, I have encountered this species at three sites locally of late. At the first of these, multiple plants were found growing in long-abandoned planters in my local industrial estate, notably in close proximity to Fern-grass (Catapodium rigidum) and other colonisers typical of such habitats. My second encounter came at Walker Riverside where several plants were found growing in pavement cracks by the Tyne. Finally, two more clumps of fleabane were spotted at Newburn Industrial Estate this morning.
Blue Fleabane is a scarce species in the North East, more numerous in County Durham (VC66) than in more Northerly vice-counties. Here, it is found frequently along the coast but also inland where it inhabits quarries and other dry habitats. In South Northumberland (VC67), it can be seen at several sites near Newcastle with an outlying population at Druridge Bay. It is rarer still in North Northumberland (VC68) where it can be seen at select coastal sites, including Lindisfarne.
What does it look like?
Blue Fleabane is similar in appearance to other small-flowered fleabanes in sporting small, inconspicuous flowers borne in panicles. The individual flowers appear flat-topped with ray florets only slightly longer than the disk florets. These lilac outer rays emerge from a yellow centre and from a distance, making the flower appear somewhat blue in colour. It is this feature which gives it the name, Blue Fleabane.
The general impression of this plant is one of a very short (less than 60cm) and densely hairy plant. The square stems are hairy, as are the phyllaries located behind the flowerhead – a useful feature in separating it from other plants in this family. Similarly, the clasping stem leaves are also hairy on both sides. The margins of these leaves are often untoothed or only slightly toothed, further separating this plant from other fleabanes.
Blue Fleabane is said to relieve tooth-ache and arthritic pains, though the truth of this remains to be determined…
Similar species
Canadian Fleabane (Erigeron canadensis) is a common non-native plant across much of the UK, including in the North East. This species tends to be far larger (but not always) and usually sports much more numerous flowers than Blue Fleabane. These are usually smaller too and lack attractive blue colouration.
Blue Fleabane (Erigeron acris) growing as a pavement plant at Walker
A short round-up of a glorious Saturday morning spent botanising one of my favourite local sites.
It is no secret that I am a big fan of the messy, post-industrial yet incredibly diverse riverside park at Walker. Visiting for a few years now, I’ve already amassed a fairly respectable plant list for the site yet somehow, each visit continues to turn up something new. Things were no different on a visit this weekend with local botanist, Ho-Yin Wong.
Heading first for the marina at St. Peter’s Basin and it wasn’t long before colossal fleabane caught my eye growing in no-mans-land by the side of the road. Up here, Canadian Fleabane (Erigeron canadensis) tends to be the common species, so much so that I often walk past them without checking. That’ll teach me, this one turned out to be Gurnsey Fleabane (Erigeron sumatrensis) identified by its hairy phyllaries.
Reaching the basin itself, it was pleasing to see that the various areas of pavement and wasteground here had not been ‘tidied’ as so many places around here often are. Lots more Guernsey Fleabane was found, alongside two more invaders: Russian Vine (Fallopia baldschuanica) and Narrow-leaved Ragwort (Senecio inaequidens).
Rummaging around further, Canadian Fleabane (with glabrous phillaries) was eventually observed, alongside Oxford Ragwort (Senecio squalidus) with its conspicuous black bracts. As for the highlight among the native species, it was nice to catch Small-flowered Crane’s-bill (Geranium pusillum) still in bloom.
Russian-vine (Fallopia baldschuanica)More Guernsey Fleabane (Erigeron sumatrensis)Narrow-leaved Ragwort (Senecio inaequidens) seems to be spreading in Newcastle
Making our way down to the track that runs along the North bank of the Tyne, the usual riverside flora remained conspicuous. Here, Black Horehound (Balotta nigra) remained in flower and several self-sown Italian Alder (Alnus cordata) were seen. Much more interesting, however, were two new additions to the ‘Walker list’ in Alexanders (Smyrnium olusatrum) and better still, White-stemmed Bramble (Rubus cockburnianus). The latter a Chinese endemic long known from the riverside here yet annoyingly, one which I have struggled to find, until now.
Moving on to the site of the old tar works and a real hotchpotch of interesting plants appeared in quick succession. Clustered Bellflower (Campanula glomerata) remained in bloom, as did Wild Thyme (Thymus drucei), though sadly, the same could not be said for the Sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) which grows here too. The Nasturtiums (Tropaeolum majus) dumped on site last summer also appear to be thriving, much to my surprise, and it was interesting to note Grey Alder (Alnus incana). Slightly further on we also encountered Hoary Ragwort (Jacobaea erucifolia).
Back down by the riverside and it was exciting to record both Hoary Mustard (Hirschfeldia incana) and Flattened Meadow Grass (Poa compressa) – both scarce species locally. As a matter of fact, it was thanks to the aforementioned grass that we chanced upon what would turn out to be the highlight of the day – a great clump of Blue Fleabane (Erigeron acris). More on that one in an upcoming post.
Soon it was head off, though not before a quick excursion along the wooded cycleway further up the bank. Here, Chinese Bramble (Rubus tricolor) was a bit of a curiosity as was what I think is Box-leaved Honeysuckle (Lonicera pileata). Having watched it with frustration for two years now, I was also happy to make some headway with the ‘unusual’ spurge that grows here. Looking closer, it appears this might be Balkan Spurge (Euphorbia oblongata), identification made easier by the presence of fruit on this occasion.
Chinese Bramble (Rubus tricolor)Box-leaved Honeysuckle (Lonicera pileata)A tentative Balkan Spurge (Euphorbia oblongata)
A short introduction to a personal passion project mapping the diverse and fascinating flora of Newcastle
As many of you will know, I have a bit of fondness for Britain’s urban flora. I’m not sure why precisely, but for me, there’s something fascinating about how our plants adapt to artificial ecosystems and how species from all around the world find themselves living side-by-side in our cities. For a good few years now, I’ve been recording urban plants here in Heaton, Newcastle, and truthfully, it never gets boring.
More recently, I have been spreading out from my usual haunts at Heaton and Walker to see what else is lurking out there in the city. The result? A mind-boggling number of plants and an intriguing mix of the common, everyday, scarce and exotic. From Laurustinus (Viburnum tinus), an exotic shrub not recorded growing wild in the city before, to coastal Buck’s-horn Plantain (Plantago coronopus) growing by a salted roadside, there’s been a lot to see. So much, in fact, that in only a few weeks, I have notched up 437 plant species within a few miles of home. All of which goes without mentioning other delights such as Atlantic Ivy (Hedera hibernica) hiding in plain sight in my local cemetery, and new and unusual escapes: Niger (Guizotia abyssinica), Cape Gooseberry (Physalis peruviana) and Shrub Ragwort (Brachyglottis x jubar).
Cape Gooseberry (Physalis peruviana) growing by a roadside in JesmondNiger (Guizotia abyssinica) I do believeLaurustinus (Viburnum tinus) growing on Brownfield at HeatonAtlantic Ivy (Hedera hibernica) in a local cemetery
A Very Urban Flora
Of course, while pottering around looking at plants for the past few weeks, I have made an effort to record all of the species seen in each 1km square visited. These records will be shared with BSBI, of course, but thinking more on the matter, I’ve decided to go one step further and put pen to paper to create something a little more tangible. The obvious answer? An ‘Urban Flora’ for Newcastle.
Now, after some research online, it appears this isn’t something carried out frequently in the UK, nor is it entirely new. Sure, there’s the fab ‘The Urban Flora of Belfast‘ published in the 1990s but this isn’t all that relevant here. Although other studies might exist, creating a flora covering Newcastle seems a worthwhile exercise nevertheless. Britain (and my part of it) is only set to grow more urban in the future and amateur studies such as this provide a useful reference point against which to measure future change. More so, they’re also good fun!
Matt exploring some brownfield land at Heaton. We did manage one new plant….
Getting to work
So, now that I have broken the news and ensured that I can’t back out, what am I going to do?
Going forward, I’ll be visiting each 1km square within the Newcastle city boundary multiple times in multiple seasons, hopefully capturing an accurate picture of the plants growing there throughout the year. This process, I hope, will provide a semi-accurate picture of plant abundance and diversity across what is a fairly typical city. With the exception of street trees (which will form an appendix), I’ll not be recording anything planted, merely any plant spreading of its own accord in the wild.
Of course, there may be a few exceptions to the aforementioned rule. For sanity’s sake, sprawling groups such as Rubus, Taraxacum and Rosa will be omitted, except for conspicuous species. Chinese Bramble (Rubus tricolor) is a good example here. As ever, recorder bias may also play a part in the final result but I hope to counteract this by attempting to learn some of the more difficult groups (gulp, cotoneasters) or at the very least, consulting with some helpful experts.
Garden Pansy (V. x wittrockiana) growing as a pavement plantHimalayan Honeysuckle (Leycesteria formosa) in Jesmond DeneGreaer Knapweed (Centaurea scabiosa) peristing on a roadsideA roadside Borage (Borago officinalis) near Gosforth
This being an urban flora, it wouldn’t make much sense to survey and include Newcastle’s more scenic areas – we are blessed with a good few here and many of these resemble more rural environments. As you’ll see from the rough map below, areas of farmland to the North and West will be excluded, as will nature reserves managed to appear ‘natural’. Sorry Havannah, Big Waters and Gosforth. Resembling more of a rural pasture, the Town Moor will also be excluded. That said, greener but typically urban habitats such as parks, roadsides, roundabouts, playing fields, and the like are all fair game. Hopefully, this will help keep things decidedly urban in nature.
For simplicities sake, I’ll be using a system of 1km squares to survey the city
Even for a relatively small area such as Newcastle, carrying out a project like this will (and rightfully should) take up quite a bit of time. I have given myself three years to achieve good coverage, but it may take longer. After that, I hope that I may be able to get the final product published somewhere, though, of course, that depends on a multitude of factors including money, supportive organisations, and the end product not being entirely rubbish!
Well, that’s that. My aim over the next few years is to create something sound, accurate and of both local and hopefully wider interest. Let work on the Urban Flora of Newcastle commence…
Entry number #4 in our Plant of the Week series follows an unexpected find in my local cemetery.
In what is quickly becoming a trend in this little series, this week’s plant is not one native to the UK. No, much like our previous Forked Catchfly, this one has its roots in the Mediterranean and is found naturally in Italy. A far cry from a dreary urban cemetery in Newcastle…
Italian Toadflax, Cymbalaria pallida
Italian Toadflax (Cymbalaria pallida) is a small but striking member of the Figwort family, Scrophulariaceae. This delicate little flower was introduced into cultivation in Britain by 1882 and was known to be growing in the wild by 1924. The first report of a naturalised population comes from Bardsea, Westmorland prior to 1977.
Italian Toadflax growing among the headstones in Jesmond Old Cemetery
The natural habitat of Italian Toadflax is rocky outcrops, shingles, scree and mountainsides. In the UK, it has readily adapted to inhabit man-made structures such as buildings, walls and other rocky places. At Jesmond Old Cemetery, where I encountered it, it was found growing in the cracked foundations of various old graves, as well as among the pavement.
In the North East, records of this plant are scarce but widespread. Here, it has been recorded in several towns and villages across Northumberland and County Durham, likely where it has escaped from cultivation. Only in one area does it appear common and widespread – Teesside where it has been recorded in several squares south of Middlesborough. Nationally, the picture is much the same with infrequent but widespread records and particular aggregations around urban centres.
What does it look like?
Italian Toadflax is superficially similar to the much more abundant Ivy-leaved Toadflax (Cymbalaria muralis), a species many of us encounter on a daily basis. The leaves of the two species are similar in shape being dark green and lobed, although those of Italian Toadflax are hairy. In contrast, those of Ivy-leave Toadflax are glossy and hairless.
The flowers of Italian Toadflax are fairly impressive and while they do resemble those of its common cousin, they are far larger and more prominent. Indeed, this is one of the first things noticed about the plant in the field. Look closer and you’ll see that these flowers are an attractive shade of violet with an extensive yellow patch on the flower lip.
It is worth noting that a white form of this species, Cymbalaria pallida ‘Alba’, also exists. As you would expect, the flowers of this cultivar are white as opposed to purple. This has only been recorded a handful of times as a garden escape.
Italian Toadflax has noticable bigger flowersLooking closely, you can just make out the hairy leaves
If like me, you’re someone who often finds yourself perusing the internet about wild plants, you’ll know that there are some fantastic resources out there to be discovered. Whether you’re frantically Googling a potentially exciting find, planning a trip or attempting to live vicariously through others, there are many helpful botany blogs and resources out there to be explored.
While the list below is not comprehensive, I wanted to share some of the botany blogs and resources I’ve been enjoying lately. Some I visit almost daily, others I’ve just discovered but either way, all are worth a look.
I’ll do my best to keep this page live and update it as I discover new resources. Until then, I hope you find something to interest you.
A Leicestershire-based charity concerned with the recording of the county’s wildlife, NatureSpot is an incredible online resource. Not only does it profile many of the county’s plant species (and other taxa too, for that matter) but it offers a great deal of helpful information on everything from habitat and identification to confusing lookalikes.
Given that many of the plants that occur in Leicestershire and Rutland can be found elsewhere too, this is a great resource for anyone looking to learn more about a specific species.
WildflowerFinder is a fantastic resource for botanists looking to identify a pesky plant. Here, plants are searchable by factors such as colour, month, habitat and species accounts tend to be extremely detailed. Take this one on Sea Spleenwort, for example.
What I find most helpful about this site is the author’s tendency to showcase multiple photos covering all aspects of a particular plant. Stems, leaves and flowers, all are routinely covered, making it easy to compare your finds.
For those who don’t own the book, BSBI’s online crib sheets are a godsend. Made available by Dr Tim Rich, they tackle some of the plant families most likely to confuse botanists in the field. Sure, they can be fairly academic (so much in botany often is) but the keys, identification aids and general tips contained within are extremely useful. Take a look at this one on Bugles, as an example.
Given that this is BSBI we’re talking about, you won’t be surprised to learn that they also have a pretty fantastic YouTube channel covering just about anything you could wish for on British botany. Plant identification, beginner-friendly talks, informative workshops and updates on exciting projects across the country, whatever your poison, they’ve got you covered.
Bee Orchid (Ophrys apifera)
Botany blogs
Botany Karen
I can’t believe it took me so long to discover this blog. A website by botanist, Karen Andrews, Botany Karen is a fantastic collection of all things botanical in the British Isles. With no end of beautiful photography, this site is useful for plant identification but more importantly is a treasure trove of information about the plants themselves. Take this post on Frog Orchids, for example. Overall, this blog is both beautiful and detailed. I can’t recommend it enough.
Botany in Scotland
I really like this one, especially the author’s long-running ‘Plant of the Week’ series. Coupling incredibly detailed accounts with lovely photography, these posts provide a complete overview of a particular plant. Narrow-leaved Ragwort, for example. If like me, you’re into biological recording, this is the website for you.
A local one now, at least if you live in the North East. A long-standing nature diary, Heather’s blog brings together observations on the natural world focusing predominately on plants but covering other taxa too. With lovely photography, lots of facts, and a focus on flora in the North East. It is a great regular read for botanists in our region.
Bug Women – Adventures in London
Bug Woman’s blog is another gem. Coupling the excitement of everyday observations with well-researched deep dives into single species, it is one of the few blogs I read each week. The author’s Wednesday Weed series is a particular highlight and whether we’re talking folklore, taxonomy or intra-species relationships, never fails to reveal new information about the plant in question. Take the humble Gooseberry, for example.
Botanising in Huntingdonshire, Yorkshire and Beyond
A fantastically informative blog focused on botanical recording in two vice counties: West Yorkshire and Huntingdonshire. Collating and sharing interesting discoveries from these areas, the author provides a fascinating account of what can be encountered in the British countryside. While the plants featured may be restricted to two small areas, the information contained within and photographic aids are universally helpful. Take this post on a new cultivar of arum, for example. I didn’t even know this existed…
It may seem odd to feature a Twitter account while discussing botany blogs but really, this one is a corker. Mick Crawley is an incredible botanist regularly sharing his finds on Twitter where he often shares helpful identification threads too. What is perhaps the best about Mick’s feed is his tendency to focus on difficult groups not often tackled elsewhere. Verbascum? Check. Daffodils? Yep. Non-native street trees? Sure!
Entry number #3 in our Plant of the Week series follows an exciting and unexpected find in Newcastle last week.
Unlike our last entry, this week’s plant is not one native to the UK. Nor is it one I suspect many people will have heard of – I certainly hadn’t. As you’ll see, Forked Catchfly is not a species one would typically expect to find growing in a patch of messy grassland within Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
Forked Catchfly, Silene dichotoma
Forked Catchfly (Silene dichotoma) is a rather lovely member of the pink family native to parts of Eastern Europe. It occurs from Italy in the West eastward as far as Russia. It can also be widely encountered outside of its natural range in Western Europe, Africa and parts of America where it’s seeds often arrive alongside exports of grain and clover seed.
Forked Catchfly, spotted at Gosforth Nature Reserve in Northumberland
The natural habitat of Forked Catchfly is said to be disturbed grasslands and open forests. It also readily exploits man-made habitats including roadsides, wasteland and agricultural margins where soil disturbance is common. At Gosforth Nature Reserve, where I encountered it last week, it was found growing on a patch of formerly disturbed dry grassland. Had the seeds been in the soil already or had they escaped from nearby farmland? Who knows…
This sighting represents the first recorded of Forked Catchfly for Northumberland. Elsewhere, it has been recorded widely but infrequently across the UK, with the greatest concentration of records in the South of England. This species would appear to have been much more common pre 1930s, possibly suggesting a decline with increased biosecurity.
Like some other catchfly species, the flowers of Silene dichotoma open fully at dusk or on overcast days
What does it look like?
Forked Catchfly is a rather ragged-looking, unkempt plant. In fact, it is this messy appearance which strikes you first, helping seperate it from its native cousins. An erect and very hairy plant, it has many flowers sporting deeply lobed white petals. These can sometimes take on a curled form, as shown in the picture below.
The flowers of this species are encased within an inflated calyx of sepals marked with ten distinctive black veins.
The leaves of this species are lanceolate and up to 8cm long. These decrease in size as you move up the stem towards the flowers and like the rest of the plant, are rather hairy.
Silene dichotoma appears to be a rather messy, unkempt plantThe leaves of Forked Catchfly at Gosforth Nature Reserve, Northumberland
For our first plant profile, we’ll cover an unobtrusive yet beautiful little fern found in only a select few corners of North East England: Lobed Maidenhair Spleenwort.
This is an extremely rare plant that thanks to an unexpected trip to Hareshaw Linn in Northumberland, I recently had the chance to see for the first time.
Lobed Maidenhair Spleenwort
Asplenium trichomanes subsp. pachyrachis
Many of us are familiar with with Maidenhair Spleenwort (Asplenium trichomanes), the delicate, trailing fern adorning garden walls and other structures throughout our towns and cities. What you may not know, however, is that the UK is home to several subspecies of this lovely little fern, one of which is the Lobed Maidenhair Spleenwort (Asplenium trichomanes subsp. pachyrachis).
This unassuming fern grows on calcareous rocks such as limestone in shaded, humid settings. Often under rock overhangs, on steep valley sides or beside waterfalls, such as at Hareshaw Linn. Unlike it’s more familiar cousins, it is seldom found on mortared walls and is unlikely to crop up in towns.
A genuinely rare subspecies in the UK, Lobed Maidenhair Spleenwort is found at only a scattering of sites. A notable concentration can be found in south Wales, with a further cluster of records near Chester. Elsewhere, it is found sporadically in small populations at isolated sites.
This fern is widespread in Southern Europe, particularly in Spain, France and Italy, so may well be under-recorded in the UK.
The specific epithet trichomanes refers to a Greek word for fern
Lobed Maidenhair Spleenwort, spotted at Hareshaw Linn in Northumberland
Identification
Lobed Maidenhair Spleenwort is a small, tufted plant that often appears to grow flat against the surface of rock. Its narrow, green fronds are usually 5-30mm long and contain at their centre a dark, glossy mid-rib – a useful feature for seperating this group from Green Spleenwort (Asplenium viride). The pinnae or leaflets usually number in at 20-30 pairs and are arranged oppositely along the frond. All of this, however, appeals to other Maidenhair Spleenworts too, so what sets this subspecies apart?
The main difference between Lobed Maidenhair Spleenwort and other subspecies is the margin of pinnae. As its name suggests, those of this fern are distinctly lobed, almost scalloped. In contrast, those of other subspecies may be asymmetrical or rectangular but only slightly toothed. It may only be an anecdotal observation, but I think the lobes give the leaflets of this fern an arrow-like shape…
Given it’s similarities to other Maidenhair Spleenworts, it is little wonder this fern is poorly recorded. Sure, it may be rare, but it must be present unnoticed at further sites. Will you find it?
Distribution
In the North East, Lobed Maidenhair Spleenwort is restricted to just a few locations: one in South Northumberland (VC67) and three in County Durham (VC66).
In Northumberland, the most notable colony is found at Hareshaw Linn SSSI, where the species thrives on the humid rock faces surrounding the site’s waterfall. In County Durham, it has been recorded at two sites near Barnard Castle and on crags along the River Tees near Bowlees.
An account of a fantastic day spent exploring fern identification at the glorious Hareshaw Linn.
Ferns have always scared me a little if I am honest. Sure, I can identify the easier ones but by large, I often ignore them on my travels in favour of less intimidating flowers. That said, I have been keen to improve my fern identification skills for a while now and on Friday set out with a friend to one of the most fern-rich sites in Northern England.
Hareshaw Linn is SSSI designated for its rare ferns and bryophytes. A scenic river gorge sporting ancient woodland and a rather beautiful waterfall, it is a site I had always wanted to visit but had not yet had the chance. Until now. Expectations already high, I am pleased to say I was not disappointed with fourteen fern species observed during our stay, including several new for me.
Starting out
Having given only an obligatory glance to the Male Fern (Dryopteris filix-mas) during our walk in, it wasn’t long until the first of the day’s more interesting ferns was discovered. The pictures below show Lady-fern (Athyrium filix-femina) found growing beside the path through the gorge. A lovely, feathery species with distinctive crescent-shaped sori, the best way to identify them is, of course, to turn them over.
Lady Fern (Athyrium filix-femina)Lady Fern (Athyrium filix-femina)
Next up, a new species for me and further into the gorge, it was great to finally stumble across Lemon-scented Fern (Oreopteris limbosperma). Quite a nice one to identify, the best way to tell it apart from the pack is that the pinnae decrease in size as they go down the stem. It also gives off a pleasant citrus smell when crushed.
Hardly worthy of a mention but two more abundant ferns were added here too: Bracken (Pteridium aquilinum) and Broad Buckler-fern (Dryopteris dilatata).
Feeling brave, further into the walk, we decided to take a quick look at some of the other Dryopteris on site. I think the fern pictured below is a Golden-scaly Male Fern (Dryopteris affinis) having ruled out the Narrow-scaly Male Fern (Dryopteris cambrensis) based on the length of the lowest pair of pinnules. It also didn’t seem to fit Borrer’s Scaly Male Fern (Dryopteris borreri) either but I’d be happy to be corrected!
Golden-scaled Male Fern (Dryopteris affinis)Golden-scaled Male Fern (Dryopteris affinis)
Moving on, new ferns soon started to come thick and fast. First came the first of many Hard Shield Ferns (Polystichum aculeatum) spotted during the trip and secondly, lots of Hard Fern (Blechnum spicant). Feeling empowered by the earlier male fern, we also chose to take a closer look at the Polypodys growing alongside the river. With pointed tips and fronds which gradually taper towards the top and bottom, I think these were Intermediate Polypody (Polypodium interjectum).
Drawing closer to the waterfall, a quick detour from the track revealed another new species for the day: Oak Fern (Gymnocarpium dryopteris). With fronds split roughly into three triangles, this is another nice one to identify and another new species for me.
Oak Fern (Gymnocarpium dryopteris)Oak Fern (Gymnocarpium dryopteris)
Reaching the waterfall, it was difficult not to be taken aback by the visible storm damage. The plunge pool beneath the waterfall was littered with the corpses of felled trees, likely brought down during Storm Arwen. I wouldn’t have liked to be here that night…
The plunge pool beneath Hareshaw’s waterfall
Back to the ferns, and Hareshaw Linn is the only North East site for the rare Lobed Maidenhair Spleenwort (Asplenium trichomanes subsp. pachyrachis). A nationally scarce subspecies of Maidenhair Spleenwort, the difference between them comes from the lobed, crinkley-looking pinnae. We saw many plants during our stay, all concentrated around the waterfall where they grow within cracks in the bedrock.
Here too, the steep cliffs of the gorge and fallen rocks beneath them held a number of other ferns. Some, like Hart’s-tongue (Asplenium scolopendrium) were somewhat common, though others much less so. Green Spleenwort (Asplenium viride) is a rare species locally and took some finding among the much more numerous Maidenhair Spleenwort.
Slightly more conspicuous, Brittle Bladder-fern (Cystopteris fragilis) could be seen in abundance too. The latter species concluded the day’s tally at a very respectable 14 fern species.
While ferns were the purpose of the day’s trip, plenty of other wildlife was seen at Hareshaw Linn. The plantlife was particularly interesting with sightings of several species I see infrequently in the North East. Among these, Wood Horsetail (Equisetum sylvaticum), Wood Melick (Melica uniflora) and Marsh Hawk’s-beard (Crepis paludosa). Of course, several Giant Bellflowers (Campanula latifolia) were also a highlight.
The combination of beaming sun and rain showers did not prove overly encouraging to insects. However, we did see a few goodies including new hoverflies for me in Epistrophe grossulariae and Leucozona laternaria. Returning to the car park, the bee below was also spotted foraging on a Solidago sp. Thanks to Chris, this was revealed to be Grey-banded Mining Bee (Andrena denticulata), an incredibly rare species in our region.
